Storm and rain hit Silchar; pandal decor torn down, outages reported

An abrupt burst of gusty wind and rain on Maha Ashtami evening tore through Cachar district, flattening decorative arches and snapping lighting frames across several Durga Puja venues. What witnesses likened to a brief sand-storm saw trusses sway and gates buckle within minutes.

Traffic was disrupted near Birbal Bazar in Meherpur after a welcome gate collapsed onto an auto-rickshaw, damaging the vehicle and narrowing the road until locals dragged debris aside. No major injuries were reported at the time of filing.

In Udharbond, the gateway to the Hospital Road Puja a major draw in South Assam – gave way under the squall’s force. Scattered damage to festoon lighting and facade elements was also reported from Udharbond Kalibari Road Durga Puja, the Kalyani Hospital stretch, and pockets elsewhere in Cachar, as intermittent showers kept repair crews wary of slippery platforms and live cables.

Power cuts followed the blow. The Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) sent advisories through the evening. One message to Silchar subscribers read: “Power supply in your area is interrupted due to storm damage and is likely to be restored by 2025-09-30 22:00. Ignore if power is restored: SILCHARE SDI, APDCL.” Generators hummed at some pandals while others went dim as volunteers isolated wet connections.

The weather turn is a logistical snag on only the second day of the Barak’s biggest festival. While the shower trimmed the day’s oppressive heat, puddled approach roads and water-logged corners will slow down pandal-hopping. Temporary barricades went up around weakened arches as electricians check mounts and re-tensioned cables between spells of drizzle.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati signalled unstable conditions for South Assam. Its district-wise bulletin lists Cachar under “thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain very likely at isolated places” in the day-one and day-two window, with widespread rain/thundershowers flagged across the subdivision in the days ahead.

Barak Bulletin will update this story as fresh guidance comes in from the Met office and the power utility.